Østfold County Council supports Østfold University College with more than one million crowns. The purpose is to improve their public health work. Th e financing is part of a new partnership agreement between the two organizations to fulfill the goals of the Public Health Programme. 400,000 crowns will be earmarked an expert group working on reducing health inequalities in the region.

- The University College has competence which is important for us, and controls vital measures when it comes to fulfilling the goals of our regional public health plan. We also strive for development of the School so that they take more responsibility in improving the public health, prosperity and quality of people's life, Ole Haabeth, County Mayor says.

A measure of agreement is that the college will seek to comply with the principle of health in everything they do. In Norway, this is a fundamental element in the new Public Health Act.

- About 80% of their students come from Østfold. The vast majority will then continue to live in the region and mainly work in different parts of the public sector. Because the new public health work wants to get almost all professional groups to take more responsibility for public health, this part of the agreement is in the long term very important to us, emphasizes Haabeth.

It is the HEPROGRESS project which has put partnership agreement between the two players on the agenda

- In this project, the County Council shall develop better systems to reduce the social inequalities in health. We do this by making better plans, arenas, alliances and cooperation. The partnership agreement is an important contribution in this respect, says the county mayor.

Østfold County has also entered another agreement with the university college, which is of a more general nature. Also here is a public health a priority, both professionally and financially.